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‘Twas the Night Before Christmas – with a twist of AirClean!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the lab
No ductless fume hood was present, it was all very sad;
With work to be done that required precision and care,
The lab techs hoped an AirClean hood would soon be there;

The hour was late and most techs were in bed,
While visions of ductless workstations danced in their heads.
With the quiet hum of the blowers to the durability of the sash,
The energy-cost savings would line their pockets with cash!

When out on the hallway there arose such a clatter,
The techs sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the door they flew like a flash,
Rubbed their eyes twice and were completely a’ gasped.

Coming down their hallway like a glistening white knight,
Was an AC4000 – it was a beautiful sight!
The fume hood was gorgeous, the lab techs in tears.
They finally had one! They had been wishing for years!

With so little to set-up, they just needed to plug ‘er in,
They threw on the blower and started to grin.
Protection was here from vapours and fumes,
They’d be sucked-up and away, no longer consumed!

This hood was amazing, all the techs had to try,
When one little lab tech asked “Is this all we could buy?”,
The senior lab tech smiled and opened his book,
To the AirClean catalogue to have one more look!

From updrafts to downdrafts to walk-in enclosures,
The lab techs tried hard to maintain their composures.
The techs gathered around and started selecting some more.
They wanted another – they wanted AirClean galore!

T’was getting late and bed time had long since past,
The ordering would wait – but the delivery would be fast!
Off to bed they all went with hearts all a flurry,
They were excited to wake and asked for the morning to hurry!

 Their AC4000 stood so shiny and new,
With their AirClean controller so bright and so blue.
So beautifully constructed, their new hood was a sight!
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

 

How To: Clean Your DrySafe™ Evidence Drying Locker.

The following instructions should be observed for the cleaning of the DrySafe™ evidence drying cabinet.

1) Turn “BLOWER” on. Don appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

2) Inside each chamber of your DrySafe, lower outer wall, you will find a grid with vertical slots. There will be black knobs (6) surrounding this grid. Loosen these knobs without removing them. Once loosened slide the grid toward you (front of cabinet) to close off the HEPA filter. Tighten the black knobs to secure the grid into the closed position. Closing this section will protect the HEPA filter during the cleaning process. Attention should be given not to over tighten the knobs; they will strip. Only tighten to firm, by hand.

3) Unscrew and remove the perforated cover on the ceiling of the chamber and replace with one of the two solid HEPA covers and then replace the screw knobs. This will cover the main HEPA filters and protect the filters from getting wet. There is a Pre-filter velcroed to the perforated cover, which will be removed and set aside.

4) While shelves are in the “up” position, spray SPORICIDIN on all inside surfaces of the cabinet and underside of shelves. DON’T SPRAY THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR.

5) Lower shelves and spray their topsides, making sure that spray coats inside holes.

6) Spray sponge with SPORICIDIN and wipe down the inside of the door.

7) Return shelves to “up” position.

8) Before closing door, remove PPE and dispose of properly.

9) Close door and latch. Turn “Blower” off for at least 20 minutes.

10) After 20 minutes, don appropriate PPE.

11) Open cabinet and remove pre-filter from ceiling; package as potential trace evidence.

12) Using a household detergent solution and sponge, thoroughly wipe down the door and inside surfaces of the cabinet. WHEN FINISHED SQUEEZE OUT SPONGE AND EMPTY THE BUCKET INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CABINET.

13) Attach hose to pump fixture (if not already); put open end in waste liquid container. Press “PUMP” on control panel to pump out waste solution.

14) Turn “PUMP” off when the cabinet is empty. DON’T RUN THE PUMP WHEN THE CABINET IS EMPTY OR DRY. Dump contents of waste container in sink or toilet. Remove PPE and dispose of properly. Store bucket and sponge to dry.

15) Loosen black knobs that hold the grids in place. Slide the grid to the rear of the cabinet to open up air in-take for HEPA. Once the grid is slide to the rear of the cabinet tighten the black knobs once again to hold the grid in the open position. This will now allow air to be drawn through the Cabinet again. Attention should be given not to over tighten the knobs; they will strip. Only tighten to firm, by hand.

16) Install new Pre-filter in cabinet ceiling and replace the solid HEPA cover with the perforated top HEPA cover.

17) Close all three latches to seal door. Lock middle latch.

18) Label and initial blue tie band. Secure locked latch to hasp with tie band.

19) Turn “BLOWER” on until cabinet is dry (minimum 20 minutes). TURN “POWER” OFF.

If you have any questions, please call (905) 825-5782 to discuss your needs with one of AirClean Systems Canada’s trained representatives.

Why So Many Industries Rely On AirClean Systems’ Activated Carbon Filters

Activated carbon filters are used by a surprising range of industries that need to remove fumes, vapours and dust from the air. While many people think of activated carbon air filters as either something to put on their furnace or used in a high school or college laboratory, these filters are used by dozens of industries. In fact, they are often used in fume hoods, workstations and a variety of industry-specific containment systems.

 

Industries Protecting Employees

One of the primary reasons an activated carbon filter is used in an industrial situation is to protect employees from potentially hazardous fumes, vapour or dust. Hospitals and research labs often use these filters to protect their employees from the fumes of potent disinfecting solutions. In some research facilities, exposure to powerful toxins is possible if a fume hood or carbon filter isn’t in place.

 

Industries Protecting Products Or Experiments

The protection of an activated carbon filter is also critical if a laboratory, research facility or hospital is developing proprietary formulas for medical compounds or solutions. This is particularly important in the biotech arena, where researchers are frequently working with samples that are extremely delicate and susceptible to contamination from their environment. Ducted and recirculating fume hoods are capable of filtering contaminants out of the immediate environment so that fragile biologics aren’t compromised.

 

Industries That Use Activated Carbon Filters To Protect The User, The Environment And The Product

Of course, most industries that want to protect their products or experiments also want to protect the environment and their people from being exposed to potential toxins. In many clinical and research situations, the system that keeps the air clean enough for proper research is also the system that will protect a doctor or researcher from exposure to irritating or dangerous vapours. The forensic sciences rely heavily on activated carbon filters to protect the environment, the evidence and the scientist using the equipment. Technology driven industries such as those that produce microchips and electrical systems also rely on fume hoods. They use air extraction systems to shield their products from environmental contamination while protecting employees from dust as a by-product of production procedures.

 

To find the right activated carbon filter solution for your industry, call (905) 825-5782 to discuss your needs with one of AirClean Systems Canada’s trained representatives, or fill out our application worksheet.

Just in time for Halloween – some spine tingling facts about 2 very popular high-level disinfectants.

Since October is the “spookiest time of year” we thought we would dedicate this month’s blog to the scary facts about the exposure to Glutaraldehyde and OPA.

Did you know? Glutaraldehyde and OPA high-level disinfectants clean scopes and probes by killing cells and microorganisms, which also means they have the potential to be irritants and possibly sensitizers.

So what happens when you breathe in these fumes? The answers as you might expect are scarier than the zombies and goblins you’ll see haunting the streets for Halloween!

Regardless of whether you are using Glutaraldehyde or OPA as your HLD, you still need adequate ventilation and containment of the fumes and vapours released during your reprocessing cycle.

There are limited studies examining the potential long-term health effects from exposure to OPA, but why risk it? Exposure to both OPA and Glutaraldehyde fumes can cause eye, ear, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and vomiting, as well as asthma among other respiratory problems. Glutaraldehyde has one of the lowest TLV of any known chemical. TLV-STEL is the Threshold Limit Value – Short-Term Exposure Limit – the concentration to which it is believed that workers can be exposed continuously for a short period of time without suffering from irritation, chronic or irreversible damage, or narcosis of sufficient degree to increase the likelihood of accidental injury, impair self-rescue or materially reduce work efficiency, and provided that the daily TLV-TWA is not exceeded. The ACGIH has adopted a TLV for Glutaraldehyde of 0.05ppm. Although OPA does not have an odour associated with it, its fumes are still dangerous. In fact, the instructions recommend the use of a containment hood.

Because of these risks, ventilation standards with regards to high-level disinfectants and vapour control were developed. These standards state:

• Chemical sterilants should be used in an area that is properly ventilated.
• Rooms in which chemical disinfection and sterilization are performed should have a minimum of 10 air exchanges per hour (local regulations may require a higher minimum exchange rate).
• When general room ventilation is not adequate, a self-contained, freestanding system* or a local exhaust hood should be installed to capture chemical vapour during processing.
• When an outside exhaust system is not available, a ductless fume hood* can be used to deliver vapour to a filter system that chemically inactivates the vapor; then clean, filtered air is returned to the room.
• Filters for these systems should be replaced at regular intervals.

*A ductless fume hood is simply a freestanding system that captures the toxic fumes and vapors via a carbon filter and returns clean air to the room. Other names for ductless fume hoods are vapour control systems and disinfection soak stations.

 

AirClean Systems manufactures a variety of ductless containment solutions including ductless ultrasound and endoscopy workstations. Incorporating revolutionary activated bonded carbon technology specifically designed for Glutaraldehyde or OPA, AirClean Systems allows workers to safely disinfect endoscopy and ultrasound probes.

Back to School: Back to Basics

Unlike traditional hoods, which vent the air, toxins and particulate into the external environment, ductless fume hoods use pre-filters, HEPA filters and carbon filters to remove particulate and toxins from the airstream. A ductless fume hood requires no ductwork and may be installed in locations where, barring a significant and expensive renovation process, a traditional fume hood could not. In some instances ductless fume hoods arrive fully assembled, as is the case with all of AirClean Systems workstations. In other instances some manufacturers require that the end user assemble the workstation. It is always advisable to clarify this detail prior to your purchase. Ductless hoods protect the operator and/or the process as well as the environment as the toxins and particulate are captured by the filters versus being released into the environment.

 

See below for a quick education on the filters that make all of this possible:

 

Pre-filters: Pre-filters are electrostatically charged and are the first layer of filtration that the airstream passes through in a ductless workstation. The pre-filters work to capture larger particulate before it passes through to the next layer of filtration. Pre-filters, much like the filters on your furnace, should be replaced every 3 months or when they appear visibly dirty.

 

HEPA filters: HEPA filters capture pathogens and particulate and are 99.997% efficient at 0.3 microns or larger. The clean air that comes through a HEPA filter is considered Class 100/ISO 5 clean air. HEPA filters are typically made of a pleated fibre glass paper. The pleated internal structure of a HEPA filter provides a larger surface area for capturing particulate. Unlike activated carbon filters, there is really only one type of HEPA filter. If your application involved particulate that was smaller than 0.3 microns, than the HEPA filter could easily be replaced by an ULPA filter. ULPA filters are 99.9995% efficient at trapping particles 0.12 microns or larger. HEPA and ULPA filters should be replaced every 12-24 months depending on your usage and application.

 

Carbon filters: Carbon filters adsorb putrid odours, vapours, fumes and gases. The carbon is activated and impregnated in order to increase the filters ability to adsorb and retain specific chemicals. AirClean Systems workstations are equipped with activated bonded carbon filters, which are unique to AirClean Systems products. Loose or granular carbon filters found in other workstations, can be shaken so that all of the carbon ends up on one side of the filter or leaves holes and gaps, through which vapours can easily escape. On the other hand, bonded carbon filters hold the carbon in a predictable matrix and ensure even distribution of the carbon so that no holes or gaps exist. Bonded carbon filters also minimizes carbon dust – which can potentially be more harmful than the application that the filter is adsorbing. Carbon filters should be replaced every 12-24 months depending on your usage and application.

 

Generally speaking:

A ductless workstation that is equipped with pre-filters and activated carbon filters is perfectly suited for those applications that require the protection of the operator from fumes, gases and vapours. The workstation will pull the air away from the operator and up through the filters where the fumes will be adsorbed, and then clean air is re-circulated back into the lab environment.

 

A ductless workstation that is equipped with pre-filters and HEPA filters, and has an updraft airflow is perfectly suited for those applications that require the protection of the operator from hazardous particulate. These workstations will pull the air away from the operator and up through the filters where the particulate is captured. The clean air is then re-circulated back into the lab environment.

 

A ductless workstation that is equipped with pre-filters and HEPA filters, and has a downdraft airflow is perfectly suited to provide non-hazardous applications with a Class 100/ISO 5 clean work environment. With the reverse airflow from the previously mentioned workstations, the air will first be pulled down through the filters at the top of the workstation where the particulate is captured and then clean air is pushed down onto the workspace and out towards the operator.

 

A ductless workstation that is equipped with pre-filters, HEPA filters and activated carbon filters will have an updraft airflow and will be perfectly suited for those applications that require the protection of the operator from both harmful vapours and particulate. These workstations will pull the air away from the operator and push it through a layer of HEPA filters to remove the particulate and then through a layer of activated carbon filters to adsorb the vapours. The clean is then re-circulated back into the lab environment.

 

You should thoroughly discuss your application with the manufacturer/distributor of your ductless workstation to ensure the appropriate filtration system has been determined. With the right selection of filters, you can rest assured that your operator and/or process are protected.

 

AirClean® Systems Canada is your direct source for AirClean® Systems ductless fume hoods, workstations and enclosures. AirClean® Systems products are designed to protect the operator, the process or both from toxic vapours, fumes, gases and particulate. Request your assessment today to get our expert analysis and find out how a ductless systems can benefit your lab today.

Understand the different fume hoods available for your laboratory or manufacturing needs

Deciding on the right system to keep your laboratory, manufacturing facility, or individual work space clear from harmful airborne chemicals starts with understanding the various types of fume hoods available. Many of our clients do not realize that the option exists where they can install a ductless fume hood or even a portable fume hood to meet their safety needs. Here are the different fume hoods available for your individual needs:

 

Ductless Fume Hoods – Ductless Fume Hoods, also known as Ductless Containment Hoods, are self-contained workstations that help to protect the operator’s breathing zone from harmful airborne fumes and particulate. These containment systems are used for a variety of applications, including chemical fume control, powder & dust removal, solvent vapor control, pharmaceutical powder filling, light grinding, acid gas fumes, anesthesia gas containment, epoxy fume control, and many more applications that produce particulate and fume. The advantage of a ductless fume hood is the reduced cost and engineering required to design the ducting to remove the particles from the area.Ductless filtering fume enclosures do not require rooftop exhaust ducts or make-up air systems as they recycle and filter the laboratory air.

Ducted Fume Hoods – The key difference for a ducted fume hood is that it is removing the particles from the area using a fixed ducting system. This would require that the work area be a permanent location and would prevent it from being easily moved or relocated. Today, ducted fume hoods have reached a high level of sophistication with regards to saving the air exhausted into the atmosphere

and containing the fumes around the work area.

Portable Fume Hoods –Portable Fume Hoods are designed to enclose materials and operations under negative pressure, thereby preventing airborne contaminants from escaping into the work environment. Contaminated air is drawn through a variety of filters to remove pollutants. Filters are available for both vapors and particulates and they can be combined for multiple substance filtration. The obvious advantage is its mobility. Portable Fume Hoods are highly convenient and portable. Since everything but the electrical plug is essentially internal, the hood simply has to be unplugged to be relocated. To move a ducted system would require a complete re-installation of ductwork, which may require the hiring of outside help to complete. Ductless Fume Hoods are up and running again in minutes.

AirClean® Systems Canada is your direct source for AirClean® Systems ductless fume hoods, workstations and enclosures. AirClean® Systems products are designed to protect the operator, the process or both from toxic vapours, fumes, gases and particulate. Request your assessment today to get our expert analysis.

Qualities to look for in a fume hood distributor

Many laboratories, manufacturing facilities, and other businesses that use chemicals or powders that can be toxic require some form of containment solution. Whether a ducted or ductless fume hood, the environment and/or work area needs to be clear of these toxins. Purchasing base supplies do not require much forethought, I am sure you do not spend hours of research on pens for the office. However, when making an investment in a product that will provide safety to your team you will want to make sure your distributor/supplier has the following qualities:

 

Knowledgeable – It is important to find a distributor/supplier that has in-depth product knowledge. Understanding the capabilities of a ductless fume hood is one component of knowledge, but understanding which hood and accompanying filter type will meet your individual needs most effectively is key to getting the right product.

Specialists – Do you want to trust your key repairs at home to people who have various experience, or do you trust someone who is an expert in the field? You are making a major investment in your business, so you should work with someone who is an expert in fume hoods. Many distributors offer various product lines and different models, but with 100’s of products how can they be an expert? You want to make sure the distributor you deal with specializes in fume hoods, ensuring that they can find the right product for your needs.

Customer Service/Technical Support–Distributors are companies that sell various products for multiple companies. The issue is that when you purchase this equipment and you need support who do you call? You should check to see if your distributor offers support after the sale. Chasing down answers can be a significant cost to your organization, but having a distributor that offers customer service will allow you to get a faster response.

Experience – It is important to understand your distributor’s experience with the product. Talking to a supplier who has little experience with the fume hood may not result in an educated decision. As with any major decision, speaking to someone with extensive experience can provide you more confidence in your decision. Leveraging their experience with fume hoods will provide you more insight into the right product for our business.

AirClean® Systems Canada is your direct source for AirClean® Systems ductless fume hoods, workstations and enclosures. AirClean® Systems products are designed to protect the operator, the process or both from toxic vapours, fumes, gases and particulate. Request your assessment today to get our expert analysis.